Name:

Class:

WRITING

The Scarlet Letter

Our study of The Scarlet Letter is short, but important for laying the groundwork for our study of American Literature. Its time to think about how the art of the novel weaves into our own culture. Assignment: Write a clear, 4-paragraph expository essay to answer one of the prompts below. Begin your essay with an introductory paragraph that includes a strong introduction, thesis, and blueprint, and finish your essay with a concluding paragraph that returns to the general idea in your thesis. Follow the directions below for your 2 body paragraphs. Prompt 1. Consider the following quote from the Roman poet Horace: Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant. ~Horace Craft an essay which defends, qualies, or challenges Horaces assertion about the role that adversity can play in developing a persons character as seen in Hawthornes novel The Scarlet Letter. After your introductory paragraph: o Body paragraph 1 should describe how adversity does/does not develop a persons character, as exemplified by 1-2 characters of The Scarlet Letter. Include textual evidenceat least 2 quotationsand ample commentary to support your claim. o Body paragraph 2 should describe how adversity does/does not develop a persons character, as exemplified by 1-2 people from 2012. This person/people may be family members, friends, role models, politicians, celebritiesanyone! Be sure to give enough context to establish who this person is, specific examples of this persons adversity, and ample commentary to explain why this person is helpful in supporting your claim. Prompt 2. In many novels, plays, and lms, setting is of special importance. For example, an author may use it to motivate characters to act in a particular way, to tell us something about a characters values, or to show us what is going on in a characters mind. Craft an essay which examines settings in The Scarlet Letter and beyond, and discuss how the setting can help us understand the novels characters more fully. After your introductory paragraph: o Body paragraph 1 should discuss how two settingsthe town and the forest, most likely tell us something about the characters specifically and/or the Puritans generally: What are their values? What is going on in their mind? Include textual evidenceat least 2 quotationsand ample commentary to support your claim. o Body paragraph 2 should describe how a particular setting tells us something about 1-2 people in 2012. This person/people may be family members, friends, role models, politicians, celebritiesanyone! Be sure to give enough context to establish who this person is, what this setting is/is like, and ample commentary to explain how this setting reveals something about this person/people. DUE DATES! First Draft Essay Next Day 1: _____________________ Final Draft Essay Next Day 3: _____________________

Final Essay 2012

Grading Rubric: Scarlet Letter Essay Excellent!

Introduction reflects the funnel with an intriguing grabber and a compelling transition to the thesis. Thesis clearly addresses the prompt, and blueprint specifies the 2 examples to follow. Begins with a clear claim that introduces the first example and connects to the thesis. 2 relevant, significant quotes provided from The Scarlet Letter. Thought-provoking commentary clearly explains how this example supports the thesis. Begins with a clear claim that introduces the second example and connects to the thesis. Clearly explains the modern-day example. Thought-provoking commentary clearly explains how this example supports the thesis and connects to our study of The Scarlet Letter. Reflects the reverse funnel by clearly restating thesis & blueprint from introduction. Ends with a clear return to the broad ideas of the introduction, and an intriguing connection to our world in 2012. Few to no errors in formal grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. Quotations properly formatted and cited, smoothly integrated into writing.

Good
Introduction reflects the funnel with a general grabber and a logical transition to the thesis. Thesis generally addresses the prompt, and blueprint generally presents the 2 examples to follow. Begins with a general claim that introduces the first example, and generally connects to the thesis. At least 2 relevant quotes provided from The Scarlet Letter. Commentary generally explains how example supports the thesis. Begins with a general claim that introduces the second example, and generally connects to the thesis. Generally explains the modern-day example. Commentary generally explains how example supports the thesis and connects to The Scarlet Letter. Reflects the reverse funnel by generally restating thesis & blueprint from introduction. Ends with a general return to the broad ideas of the introduction, and a general connection to our world in 2012. Some errors in formal grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. Quotations mostly properly formatted and cited, mostly integrated well.

Room for Improvement

Introduction may be missing a grabber or a transition to the thesis. Thesis & blueprint attempt to address the prompt, and/or to present the examples of the essay, but may be vague. Begins with a topic sentence that may be missing a claim or an introduction of the first example. 1 quote provided from The Scarlet Letter. Commentary attempts to explain how example supports the thesis, but may be vague. Begins with a topic sentence that may be missing a claim or an introduction of the second example. Explanation of the modern-day example may be vague. Commentary and connection to The Scarlet Letter attempts to explain how example supports the thesis, but may be vague. Attempts to reflect the reverse funnel by restating thesis & blueprint from introduction, but may be vague. May not return to the broad ideas of the introduction, and/or a connection to our world in 2012. A number of errors in formal grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. Errors can be distracting to the reader at times. Some formatting and/or citation errors for quotations, integration may be incorrect.

YikesCome see Ms. Peterson ASAP

Introduction may be missing a or contain an insufficient grabber and a transition to the thesis. Thesis may notor may be confusing in address(ing) the prompt, and/or present(ing) the examples of the essay. Begins with a topic sentence that neither makes a claim nor introduces the first example. 1 insufficient, 1 unrelated, or no quote provided from The Scarlet Letter. Commentary may be missing, or may insufficient to support the claim. Begins with a topic sentence that neither makes a claim nor introduces the second example. Explanation of the modern-day example may be insufficient. Commentary and connection to The Scarlet Letter may be missing, or may insufficient to support the claim. Insufficiently reflects the reverse funnel: may not restate thesis and/or blueprint from introduction. May not return to the broad ideas of the introduction, and/or a connection to our world in 2012 A number of errors in formal grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. Errors typically are distracting to the reader. Quotations not cited or formatted correctly, attempt to integrate may be incorrect.

Introduction, Thesis, & Blueprint

Body Paragraph 1

Body Paragraph 2

Conclusion

Mechanics

Attention to MLA Formatting: Heading order/Left-aligned: ___/ point Title: ____/ point Date: ____/ point

First Draft Included: ____/ point Last Name/Page # in Upper Right: ___/ point Times New Roman Font: ___/ point Double-Spaced: ____/ points

Total Writing Points: _____________ / 23.5 points